Blue Dolphin Energy Company, an independent oil and gas company, provided an operational update on the Nixon Refinery.

Blue Dolphin reported that start-up operations at the Nixon Refinery are progressing well. The refinery is currently in a recommissioning phase, which is expected to go on for the next couple of months. During the initial 10 day start-up run, the refinery successfully processed 7,500 barrels of oil per day into diesel, naphta and residuals. At full operations, the facility is expected to process in excess of 15,000 barrels of oil per day and store 295,000 barrels of crude and refined oil products.

Blue Dolphin also announced that Thomas J. McReynolds, Jr., 52, has joined the Company as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. McReynolds brings more than 29 years of business leadership experience in finance, accounting, treasury and risk control, as well as mergers and acquisitions expertise, to Blue Dolphin's executive management team. Prior to joining Blue Dolphin, he served as a Principal of Stinnett & Associates LLC, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Seminole Energy Services LLC and Managing Director of Corporate Planning at Dynegy, Inc.

"Blue Dolphin is pleased with the Nixon Refinery's progress so far and we anticipate closing the transaction for its acquisition within the next month," said Ivar Siem, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "TJ's solid energy and finance background makes him a great fit for this new role and we welcome his contributions as we realign our efforts for long-term growth."

Tags: Blue Dolphin Energy Company